Two slighter early works, and a mature masterpiece

Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio #1; Turina: Piano Trio #1; Ponce: Trio Romantico

These three composers were near contemporaries; Joaquin Turina and Manuel Ponce were both born in 1882, while Heitor Villa-Lobos was born in 1887. Of the three piano trios on this disc, those of Villa-Lobos and Ponce are both early works, dating from 1911 and 1912, respectively. As appealing as both of these pieces are, neither is really representative of the mature work of either composer. Ponce called his work "Trio Romantico", and Villa-Lobos's first Trio also has a very Romantic sound. Ernest Chausson or César Franck might be cited as influences. Significantly, these trios have little of the folkloric sounds of Mexico and Brazil that would soon become so important for both composers, and no trace at all of the modernism that Ponce and Villa-Lobos would embrace as each spent more time (often together) in Paris later in the teens and 20s.

On the other hand, Turina's Piano Trio #1 is a mature work, dating from 1926. This wonderful piece is a fascinating amalgam of modernist influences, especially from Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky; dances from Galicia, Northern Europe, the Basque country, Aragon and Turina's native Andalusia; and even hints of jazz.

It's no surprise that the most successful performance here is of the Turina Trio; violinist Simón Gollo, cellist Horacio Contreras and pianist Ana María Otamendi have the measure of this music, swinging a bit when Turina nods to Ravel and winks at jazz, and presenting the dance rhythms without making this music into a travelogue pastiche. But a less serious touch might have improved the rest of the programme, especially the Villa-Lobos. It's a natural impulse to play up a weaker early work by a composer, even ones as accomplished as Ponce and Villa-Lobos, but not making a meal of these pieces might give a better chance of revealing their charms.

This album will be released on March 3, 2023.